Food container



3825 v. E. VINING FOOD-CONTAINER Filed Jan. 26, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet lINVENTOR .VJNJNCL,

WITNESSES:

v mmm v. E. VINENG I FOOD CONTAINER Filed Jan. 26. 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2WITNESSE:

Patented June 25, 1940 FOOD CONTAINER Vernon E. Vining. Mansfield, Ohio,assignor to Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Company, EastPittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania 7 Application January 26,

10 Claims.

This invention relates to food storage containers in refrigerators andmore particularly to storage containers for fresh meats and similarfoods. It also relates to a combined food storage container andcondensate pan for mechanical reirigerators. I

One object of this invention is to provide a storage container for freshmeats and similar articles which keeps these articles in a palatable Icondition for a long period of time.

Another object is to provide a combined food storage container andcondensate tray.

A further object is to provide an improved support for the combined foodstorage container and condensate tray.

These and other objects are effected by my invention, as will beapparent from the following description and claims taken in connectionwith the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, inwhich:

Fig. 1 is an elevation of a domestic refrigerator showing the combinedfood storage container and condensate tray of my invention in a positiondirectly underneath the evaporating unit;

Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective View of the food storage containershowing the rack therein and the supporting shelf; and

Fig. 3 is a partial vertical section through the combined food storagecontainer and condensate tray taken on the line IIIIII of Fig. 1 andlooking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring now to Fig. l, a domestic refrigerator is shown generally atill with the evaporator or cooling unit III in the upper portion of therefrigerating chamber l2. Supported on the projections i3 in the sidesof the refrigerating chamber 12 is a shelf 14. The shelf has a centralopening It extending rearward from the front edge of the shelf- M inwhich opening is supported the food storage container of this invention,shown generally at 16.

As shown in Fig. 2, the shelf it comprises a frame of heavy wire 20formed to provide a straight rear member I1 which lies adjacent the backinternal wall of the food chamber ll of the a refrigerator it. The wire20 is bent forward at right angles to form side members 18 lyingadjacent the side wall of the refrigerating chamber i2 and is then bentinwardly at nearly right angles and slightly curved to form the forwardcurved edges IQ of the shelf member. The wire 26 is then bent backwardlyto form loops 21 at each end of the shelf, leaving a large free area Itin the central portion of the shelf it. The

1938, Serial No. 186,954

ends 22 of the wire 20 are secured against the rear member 11 of theframe.

The portion 23 of the wire 20 between the two loops 2!, 2| is reenforcedby two similar heavy wires 24 and 25, the wire 24 being in the plane ofthe frame and joining the two frame members. adjacent the centralopening 15, and the second wire 25 being bent in the form of a U andsecured to the rear member 11 of the frame at right angles to the planeof the shelf l4. Across the two looped portions of the frame are secureda series of parallel U-shaped wires 26 which provide the platform of theshelf M.

The food storage container 16 is shown in detail in'Flgs. 2 and 3 andcomprises a metal panshaped container forming a condensate tray 21, arack 28, and a metal cover 29 for said condensate tray 21. Thecondensate tray 21 is provided with outwardly turned flanges or shoulderportions 22 which are adapted to rest on the edges of the centralopening 15 of the shelf It. At their extreme edges 33, the flanges 32 ofthe condensate tray 21 are turned upwardly. The condensate tray 21 has adepressed panel 34 running longitudinally of the tray to the flanges 32.This panel 32 reenforce's the tray 21. The tray 21 is sufficiently largeto collect the moisture dripping from the evaporator unit II when thisunit is being defrosted.

The cover 29 of the condensate tray 21 comprises an inverted pan-shapedelement having outwardly turned flanges 35 which are turned downwardlyat their edges 36. These fianges 35 are similar to the flanges 32 of thecondensate tray 21 but are of smaller overall dimensions, 50

that the down-turned edges 36 of the cover rest on the outwardly turnedportion 32 of the flanges of the food tray 21 and within the upwardlyturned edge 33 of this tray. The flanges 32 of the tray 21 thus extendbeyond the flanges 35 of the cover 29. The central area of the cover 29is depressed. to form a storage reservoir 31 for liquids. The end wallsof the cover element 29 are provided with panels 39 to correspond withthe panelling 2t of the condensate tray 21.

The front panels of the condensate tray 21 and the cover element 29 areprovided with handles ii for conveniently removing the container Hi fromthe refrigerator. The handles 4| are L-shaped in cross section and aresecured by rivets ll] by one of their legs to the respective flanges 32and 35 as shown more clearly in Fig. 3. The other leg of the handle Mextends parallel to the side of the respective tray or cover element andits free edge is rounded by being bent inwardly through an angle ofabout 180. When the cover 29 is in position on the tray 21, the handles9| form a combined handle by means of which the container l6 may bepulled outwardly to slide on the edges of the shelf M.

In the sides of the cover element 29 are ventholes 38 for venting theinterior of the container IS. A somewhat similar venting effect may alsobe secured by providing the condensate tray 21 and/or the cover elementwith irregularities or projections at their meeting edge so that theclosure is imperfect. Venting is then effected through the gap betweenthe cover element 29 and the condensate tray 21.

Within the food storage container is a rack 28 composed of a wire bentinto the form of a rectangular frame 42. Across this frame 412 arewelded supporting wires 43 which form the platform of the rack 28.Portions of the frame member are bent downwardly to form supports 4%which rest on the bottom of the condensate tray 21 so that the remainderof the frame member 9'2 is'elevated above the bottom of this tray 21.Secured to the end elements of the frame '52 are welded U-shaped wireswhich extend upwardly to form handles for the rack 28. As shown in Figs.1 and 2, the width of the container I6 is approximately the same as thewidth of the evaporator H and the container I6 is longer than his wide.The height of the side walls of the condensate tray 21 and the cover 29are each approximately one-quarter of the width of the container IS. Thearea of the side walls of the cover 29 which is exposed to the interiorof the container l6 approximates the area of the top wall of the cover29, although more or less area for the side walls is permissible so longas the area chosen effects the transmission of heat from the side wallsto the top wall in sufficient quantities to appreciably and measurablylower the temperature in the container It.

The fresh meats and similar food articles which are to be stored areplaced on the platform of the wire rack 28 in the condensate tray 21.

The cover 29 is placed on the tray 21 and the en tire container I6 isslid into position in the shelf it immediately below the evaporator unitH. The shelf members 20 provide a sliding support for the flanges 32 ofthe lower tray 21, thus supporting the entire food storage container ISin such a manner that it is readily moved into and out of the main foodstorage compartment [2, and occupies the minimum of usable spacetherein. The container being of metal permits of the rapid chilling ofits contents.

The meat stored on the rack 28 is elevated above the bottom of thecondensate tray 21 and is thus exposed on substantially all surfaces tothe air passing through the venting openings 38. Because of thetemperature difference between the cooling unit II and the walls of therefrigerator l0, convectional air currents are set up in the foodcompartment l2 of the refrigerator l0 and the condensate tray 21 andcover element 29 act as shields to protect the meat from excessive aircurrents which would tend to remove too much moisture from the meat. Ithas been found that meat stored in this manner retains its naturalcondition for long periods of time.

The evaporator unit H is preferably defrosted when there is no meat inthe food container l6. During this period, the cover 29 and the rack 28may be removed from the condensate tray 21 and this tray used forcollecting the liquid dripping from the evaporator unit H.

If, due to a failure of the electric power supply or similar causes, theoperation of the refrigerator unit is stopped while the cover is on thefood storage chamber, the liquid from the melting ice on the evaporatorunit II will drip into the depressed portion 31 of the cover 29.

If the failure of the power supply is of long duration, the liquid mayoverflow the depressed portion 31 and run down the sides of the cover 29where it will be caught by the flanges 32 of the condensate tray 21 anddirected into the tray 21. It is deemed preferable to collect thecondensate in this manner rather than let it drip down over the articlesof food which may be stored in the refrigerator.

While I have shown my invention in the preferred embodiment, it will beobvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but issusceptible of various changes and modifications without departing fromthe spirit thereof and I desire, therefore, that only such limitationsshall be placed thereupon as are imposed by the prior art or as arespecifically set forth in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a refrigerator, the combination of an insulated cabinet, a coolingunit therein, and a food storage container below the cooling unit, saidcontainer comprising a pan and a cover therefor, an imperforate flangeon the edge portion of the pan, said flange comprising shoulder portionsand upturned edge portions, said cover being adapted to rest on theshoulder portions and within the upturned edge portion of the flange,the cover having a depressed portion, said food storage container beingadapted to store a portion of the moisture which may drip from thecooling unit in the depressed portion of the cover, the excess moisturedraining over the edges of the cover to the-flange on the pan andthereupon into the pan. [41L 2. In a refrigerator, the combination of aninsulated cabinet, a cooling unit therein, a food storage containerbelow the cooling unit, said container comprising a pan and a covertherefor, an imperforate flange on the edge portion of the pan, saidflange comprising shoulder portions and upturned edge portions, saidcover being adapted to rest on the shoulder portions and within theupturned edge portion of the flange, the cover having a depressedportion, said food storage container being adapted to store a portion ofthe moisture which may drip from the cooling unit in the depressedportion of the cover, the excess moisture draining over the edges of thecover to the flange on the pan and thereupon into the pan, and removablemeans in said container for supporting food above the bottom thereof.

3. In a refrigerator, the combination of an insulated cabinet, a coolingunit therein, a food storage container below the cooling unit, saidcontainer comprising a pan and a cover therefor, an imperforate flangeon the edge portion of the pan, said flange comprising shoulder portionsand upturned edge portions, said cover being adapted to rest on theshoulder portions and within the upturned edge portion of the flange,the cover having a depressed portion, said food storage container beingadapted to store a portion of the moisture which may drip from thecooling unit in the depressed portion of the cover, the excess moisturedraining over the edges of the cover to the flange on the pan andthereupon into the pan, ventilating means for said container, andremovable means in said container for supporting food above the bottomthereof.

4. In a refrigerator, the combination of an insulated cabinet, a coolingunit therein defining a freezing zone, two spaced apart shelf portionsin said cabinet, and a food container comprising a lower pan and a covertherefor in the shape of an inverted pan, the cover having a depressedportion therein, flanges on the edges of the lower pan, said flangescomprising a shoulder portion and upturned end portions, said coverbeing adapted to rest on said shoulder portion and within the upturnededge portion of the flange, said food storage container being adapted tostore a portion of the moisture which may drip from the cooling unit inthe depresed portion of the cooler, the excess moisture draining overthe edges of the cover to the flanges on the pan and thereupon into thepan, said flanges being supported on the shelf portions to affordhorizontal sliding movement to the pan, said shelf being positioned inthe cabinet to support the food container directly below the coolingunit.

5. In a refrigerator, the combination of an insulated cabinet, a coolingunit therein, and a substantially closed food storage container in thecabinet disposed immediately below the cooling unit, said containerhaving side and bottom walls and a metal cover member, said cover memberincluding a top wall and downwardly-extending metal portions formedintegrally with the top wall, said downwardly-extending metal portionsproviding heat-absorbing surfaces of a large aggregate area exposed tothe interior of the container, whereby said downwardly-extending metalportions absorb heat from the interior of the container and conduct itto said top wall of the cover member from which said heat is transmittedto the cooling unit.

6. In a refrigerator, the combination of an insulated cabinet; a coolingunit therein, and a substantially closed food storage container in thecabinet disposed immediately below the cooling unit, said containerhaving upper, lower, and side walls, said container comprising a baseand a cover therefor, said cover embodying the upper and a substantialportion of the side walls of the container in a unitary metallicstructure, the portion of the cover forming side walls of the containerproviding heat-absorbing surfaces of a large aggregate area exposed tothe interior of the container, whereby heat absorbed from the interiorof the container by the portions of the cover which form side walls ofthe container is conducted to the portion of the cover forming the upperwall of the container and then dissipated to the cooling unit.

'7. In a refrigerator, the combination of an insulated cabinet, acooling unit therein, and a substantially closed food storage containerin the cabinet disposed immediately below the cooling unit, saidcontainer having upper, lower, and side walls, said container comprisinga base and a cover therefor, said cover embodying the upper and asubstantial portion of the side walls of the container in a unitarymetallic structure, the portions of the cover forming side walls of thecontainer having large surfaces exposed to the interior of thecontainer, whereby heat absorbed from the interior of the container bythe portions of the cover which form side Walls of the container isconducted to the portion of the cover forming the major portion of theupper wall of the container and then dissipated to the cooling unit.

8. In a refrigerator, the combination of an insulated cabinet, a coolingunit therein, a substantially closed food storage container in thecabinet disposed immediately below the cooling unit, said containerhaving side and bottom walls and a metal cover member, said cover memberincluding a top wall and downwardly-extending metal side wall portionsformed integrally with the top Wall, said downwardly-extending metalside wall portions providing heat-absorbing surfaces of a largeaggregate area exposed to the interior of the container, whereby saiddownwardly-extending metal side wall portions absorb heat from theinterior of the container and conduct it to said top wall of the covermember from which said heat is transmitted to the cooling unit, and foodsupporting means within said receptacle afiording access of the air to amajor portion of the bottom surfaces of food supported on said means.

9. In a refrigerator, the combination of an insulated cabinet, a coolingunit therein, a substantially closed food'storage container in thecabinet disposed immediately below the cooling unit, said containerhaving upper, lower and side walls, said container comprising a base anda cover therefor, said cover embodying the upper and a substantialportion of the side walls of the container in a unitary structure, theportion of the cover forming side walls of the container representingheat-absorbing surfaces of an aggregate area approximately equal to thearea of said upper wall, whereby heat absorbed from the interior of thecontainer by the portions of the cover which form the side walls of thecontainer is conducted to the portion of the cover forming the upperwall of the container and then dissipated to the cooling unit.

10. In a refrigerator, the combination of an insulated cabinet, acooling unit therein, a substantially closed food storage container inthe cabinet disposed immediately below the cooling unit, said containerhaving side and bottom walls and a cover member, said cover memberincluding 7 a top wall and downwardly-extending side wall portionsformed integrally with the top wall, said downwardly-extending side wallportions providing heat-absorbing surfaces with a large aggregate areaexposed to the interior of the container and having a highheat-conducting capacity, whereby said downwardly-extending side wallportions absorb considerable quantities of heat from the interior of thecontainer and conduct it to said top wall of the cover member, said topwall of the cover member also having a high heat-conducting capacity,whereby heat conducted to the top wall of the cover member is readilydissipated to the cooling unit.

VERNON E. VINING.

